10 February 2006

photobooth friday



meet bill and georgia, my maternal grandparents.

bill was a printer (which may explain my love affair with typography) and had his own small farm. he died when I was five, so my memories of him are faint. what I do remember is that he used to get a big kick out of my impromptu tap dancing. I had plastic white dime store sandals that made great clickety-clacking sounds and begged to double as tap shoes. at his request, I danced my little four year-old heart out. this would be my last memory of him-- his slight smile. bill was not one to show a great deal of emotion and so I knew (even at the tender age of four) that his chuckle was not to be taken lightly. I felt as if I'd won a special kind of trophy with his small grin and am girlishly proud of it (even today). besides running a printing shop, he also owned a farm where he lovingly tended apple trees, sunflowers, tomatoes, corn and such. his home-baked bread was legendary as were the lawnmower rides he took all the grandkids on each time we visited. grandpa bill also sent the greatest, most magical packages-- boxes wrapped neatly in brown paper, filled with special valentine, easter, and birthday goodies. my cousin recently reminded me of the time he sent us all flashlights-- which doesn't seem like anything until you remember just how much fun a flashlight can be for a kid. so brilliant, that package full of flashlights. yet there's also a darkness to his past. though now is not the time or place. today I'm all about remembering goodness. he remains a tremendous mystery to me, this photobooth shot one tiny piece of an unsolvable puzzle.

georgia helped bill run the printing shop and sold office supplies on the side. she loved antiques, though-- bought, sold and collected them over and over. (in fact, she just may be responsible for two whole generations of hardcore junk lovers). after my grandpa died, her love for antiques and oddities spilled over into the office supply shop. you could walk in and pick up some legal pads, a nice fountain pen and perhaps an old clock or some fine china. she's a great mystery to me too, my grandma. she's still living, though her mind is not her own most days. I have stunning photobooth shots of her, can't wait to share them here and am saving my words and memories of her until then.

this tiny photobooth snapshot was discovered just recently as my mom was organizing some of my grandmother's papers. up until this point, we had only formal portrait-style photographs of the two of them together, very few candids. I gasped when I first laid eyes on this. I love how shockingly intimate it is-- they're so young and beautiful and well, sexy. so much story there, so much I'll never know. I'll take what I can get though-- forever grateful for this small glimpse. besides, mystery is the stuff from which great imagination is made.


more photobooth friday fabulousness to be found:

my house is cuter than yours
mad organica
jesC
lovegreendog
jackie
cult of degan

and just in case you missed it, check out ticky tacky's photobooth friday post from last week (here). it's what inspired me this morning.

31 comments:

  1. Your grandma is STUNNING! They look so much in love. What a treasure to have that picture of them!

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  2. That is such a wonderful picture. Aweeeee :)

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  3. As usual, you kick some great blog-writing patootie, dear. Your words resonate with me, even though I knew some of the backstory here. Great job. And what a fantastic photo! It's really something to see your grandparents in a scenario this intimate.

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  4. this is such a lovely photo and lovely story!

    and BTW...your grandpa was HOT!! ha ha!

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  5. Your grandparents are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. You are an amazing writing - so fresh.

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  6. I love that photo. I have similar ones of my grandparents with them just looking so classicly beautiful. I was inspired by your Photobooth Friday and have put one up too. Thanks!

    Jackie

    http://www.moeyyo.com/MT/index.html

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  7. Andrea, Wow! This is the first time I have seen a young picture of your grandpa. I have seen beautiful pictures of your grandma, but now I see how your mom ended up so stunning. What a treasure to find. Im sending Nate over to view it!

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  8. By the way, something in that photo reminds me of a young Nate (like high school aged...) I could swear he has held his head the same way and looked up with his eyes like that. The jaw line and shape of face (although he is very Corrona too.)

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  9. i love the old photobooths, and was also inspired by ticky tacky's post for this week. great post!

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  10. what a lovely photo and post andrea! your grandmother was stunning! i can see where you get your gorgeous looks from! such an intriguing shot!

    now if only i could find a booth!

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  11. So beautiful! And is Bill sporting a faux-hawk?

    I find these vintage pb shots amazing.

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  12. this picture is so wonderful. I love the emotion, intimacy and nonchalant cool. It reminds me of a little framed photo I have of a mother and son (strangers to me) that I found at a flea market and had to take home. I wanted to post it today for FBF - because their expressions always lift me up when I need it - but my scanner is acting up and is making for my (non)participation - but I do love checking in.

    and your writing is stellar.

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  13. wow...beautiful photo!

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  14. LOVE, LOVE this photo. So beautiful, thanks for sharing.
    andrea (yes another)

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  15. What a great story. I'm intrigued!

    And the photo ... well. It is superb. They were so beautiful, the both of them; I find it really rare to see such gorgeous people in old photos. Now why do you suppose that is? It can't all be standards of beauty, can it?

    Anyway, these two have timeless appeal, and HOW!

    And the photo is great, too, at showing the vibe of the moment, you know? They look like a very happy couple.

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  16. Oh yeah, and I think I'm skipping this week. I'll post next time late Thursday night!

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  17. wow...you look a lot like your grandmother! what a beautiful photograph.

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  18. This is such a gorgeous photo! And a rare find, so few vintage photos give us a glimpse of who the photographeed actually were, and this is one of those. I have GOT to participate in this!

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  19. What a fabulous picture! I have a picture of my maternal grandparents from when they were first married sitting together on a rock in their front yard. They are both smiling to beat the band and are wearing matching spectators - I think its my favorite picture of my grandmother. I love seeing her so relaxed and happy. Its nice to see something similar in the faces of this picture. Can't wait to see more of them!

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  20. I feel dirty sayin' this, but your grandpa was a HOTTIE. I don't blame Georgia at all,...not. at. all.

    She's cute, too (for a girl)!

    I wanna know his back story...

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  21. lovely lovely lovely.... as always.... and what a photo to treasure. i can only hope that someday someone looks at a photo of me in this way and remembers such amazing things....

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  22. Wow! I'd be proud to have such a jazzy, glam heritage!
    I love this photo!

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  23. Stellar! Even though I am prejudice, that is tremendous writing! You captured your grandpa and grandma. They were special people and Georgia still is. I can see your mother and you in Georgia's face and a little of Von and Nate in Bill's face. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for posting that for Georgia and Bill. As usual, you make me so proud of you...thank you, Lord, for this daughter. P.S. You should be a writer!

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  24. wow. what a great photo. your grandmother is gorgeous. i love this. they look like they were really having fun. :)

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  25. Love the photobooth...wait a minute...love everything here.

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  26. Hey...it's me again...I took your advice, and spilled the beans on my West Hollywood adventure.

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  27. THis is a GORGEOUS photo--so effortlessly glamorous. And what wonderful memories. No wonder you have such a vivid imagination and love to dance: your family supported it from the beginning.

    You know what else I love--that your guy comes here and says sweet romantic things in your comments. So great!

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  28. Gorgeous photo. I love how mysterious old photos are, how tantalizing they are, as if you could only step through the frame and join them and ask them questions. Thanks for sharing.

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  29. Wow. Beautifully written. Fabulous photo. Normally, when I find new blogs, I email the link to myself...browse it over a bit...may or may not look at it again. Yours, instead, is going straight to my links page on my blog. There is some kind of magic here.

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